Andorran Costume Designer Désirée Guirao Nominated for Gaudí Award for *Sorda*

Andorran costume designer Désirée Guirao views wardrobe as a powerful narrative tool that conveys character emotions and backstories without words. Her work on the film *Sorda* has earned her a nomination for a Gaudí Award, one of Spain's top film honors.

Guirao, who has built a solid career in cinema, television, and advertising, describes her creative world as deeply connected to the body, memory, and emotion. She focuses on subtle designs using living materials that feel authentic, lived-in, and soulful, always serving the characters from within.

Her path into film costume design began early, influenced by cinema at home—especially through her brother Josep—and crystallized when she realized wardrobe's storytelling potential rivals that of scripts or acting. For new projects, she starts with an intuitive script reading to capture emotions and visuals, then builds characters based on their histories and contexts. The process stays dynamic on set, incorporating actors' input and evolving circumstances.

Wardrobe, she says, reveals origins, wounds, desires, or inner conflicts through details like worn fabric or ill-fitting clothes, delivering profound emotional information silently. Her influences draw from everyday reality, people, daily situations, certain paintings, and emotion above all.

Balancing creativity with production constraints like budgets and tight schedules comes through attentive listening and focused ingenuity. Limitations, she notes, can sharpen ideas and prioritize essentials for the story.

Among today's challenges, Guirao highlights job precariousness, rushed timelines, the need to advocate for wardrobe teams' value, and a push for sustainability in materials and working conditions.

Working on *Sorda*—directed by David Pons—was a professional and personal gift, despite family-life hurdles. She calls it a beautiful, essential film that touches the soul.

To aspiring audiovisual costume creators, she advises mastering the craft with respect, time, learning, and patience while developing a unique perspective.